Fungal Cell Wall Proteins with Functions in Cell Wall Biogenesis, Cell Wall Signaling and Interactions with Host

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Background

Fungal infections affect a billion people worldwide every year. Fungi are present as commensals in the human body and cause infection under opportunistic conditions. Such conditions include prolonged antibiotic treatment, cancer therapy, immunocompromised conditions or AIDS. Superficial infections of the skin and the mucosae include oral candidiasis, vaginal candidiasis, diaper rash, denture stomatitis, jock itch, athlete’s foot etc. Invasive fungal infections including infections of the bloodstream and systemic fungal infections are difficult to treat. Such infections are caused by pathogenic fungi like Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. There is a significant morbidity of 30-60% associated with systemic fungal infections. Additionally, plant pathogens cause severe damage to crops and affect the agriculture industry. The structure that provides initial and unceasing contact of the pathogenic fungus with the host during the infection is the fungal cell wall, a complex construction composed mainly of polysaccharides and a wide variety of proteins, that undergoes dynamic changes to ensure effective adaptation to the challenging conditions in the host organism. To a large extent, cell wall proteins play a significant role in the establishment of fungal infection.

There is a rapid emergence of antifungal drug resistance to the currently available antifungal drugs resulting in the need for novel antifungal drugs and drug targets. Fungal cell wall proteins are easily accessible targets as they are located in the cell wall space. They have important functions and represent ideal targets for novel antifungal drugs. Their functions include cell wall biogenesis, cell signaling related to cell wall integrity and morphology, and their involvement in the interactions with host proteins and cells results in increased fungal adhesion, successful invasion, and efficient avoidance of the defense mechanisms of the attacked host. Even though different functions of fungal cell wall proteins have been explored in recent years, predominantly for the frequently isolated pathogenic representatives of Candida, Cryptococcus or Aspergillus genera, still many questions remain to be elucidated. Thus, this Research Topic aims to delineate fungal cell wall protein functions in cell signaling and to provide a novel and in-depth outlook of the complexity of the fungal cell wall structure reflected in the multifaceted host-pathogen interactions. The subject of the expected research is not limited to the most widespread species of fungi dangerous to humans, animals and plants, but also to endemic fungi and emerging fungal pathogens.

We welcome Original Research and Review articles addressing but not limited to the following topics:

• Manuscripts involving human, animal and plant pathogenic fungi

• Manuscripts on cell wall protein functions in cell wall biogenesis and/or cell signaling

• Genetic studies using deletion mutations and site-directed mutagenesis of cell wall proteins

• Biochemical assays for cell wall proteins that function as glycosyl hydrolases

• Cell wall proteins involved in glycosyl modification of signaling proteins

• Involvement of cell wall adhesins and enzymes in interactions with host proteins and cells and in evading host immune system

• Atypical cell wall proteins of cytoplasmic origin exposed on the surface of fungal cells and their role in the biology and virulence of fungi

Keywords: pathogenic fungi, fungal cell wall, cell wall proteins, cell signaling, antifungal drug resistance, surface adhesins, infections, virulence

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